Responsibilities of a Nurse Practitioner (NP)
A nurse practitioner is
second only to a doctor in terms of responsibilities and authority over patient care. In some states, a nurse
practitioner is permitted to work independently without supervision by a physician, often performing many of the
same tasks as an MD. The scope of the position will depend on the individual clinic’s regulations and the
division of the staff’s tasks.
Training to Become a Nurse
Practitioner
A nurse
practitioner's education is extensive, typically beginning with the same training a registered nurse receives -
usually an Associate Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). As their career
progresses, later training can also include a masters or doctorate in nursing or another specialty health care
field. Nurse practitioners are essentially RNs with additional medical training and expertise, along with the
ability to diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, offer treatment, and even perform minor
surgeries.
Settings Where Nurse Practitioners
Work
In many
states, nurse practitioners are qualified to work without a doctor's supervision, performing medical procedures
that are usually fulfilled by a licensed physician. While some nurse practitioners do choose to work
independently, others work in hospitals and other medical settings as part of teams that include doctors, other
nurse practitioners, and RNs.
The
nurse practitioner can be found working in hospitals, hospices and nursing homes, private
medical clinics, community clinics, doctors' offices, medical laboratories, and home health care organizations,
as well as in private practices.
Duties of a Nurse
Practitioner
Because
the regulations vary so much from state to state regarding what tasks nurse practitioners can perform, a typical
workday can include a wide range of responsibilities, including:
- Diagnosing, treating, and monitoring patients’ illnesses and symptoms
- Performing checkups and other physical examinations for adult and child patients
- Ordering and interpreting blood tests and other diagnostics
- Taking patients’ medical histories and entering them into a database
- Prescribing medications, physiotherapy, and other physical treatments
- Providing prenatal care and family planning guidance
- Administering vaccinations
- Providing geriatric and palliative care
- Referring patients to specialists when necessary
- Performing minor surgeries (usually under observation by an attending physician)
- Providing patient education regarding health, nutrition, and treatment options
In
general, nurse practitioners emphasize prevention and well-being more than doctors normally do, so patient
education comprises a significant portion of their work. They spend a considerable amount of time teaching
patients to incorporate healthy nutritional habits and exercise regimens into their daily
lifestyles.
The
nurse practitioner who chooses to work as part of a medical team in a hospital or health center
will often take on the roles involving patient education, wellness, and prevention, while doctors provide
diagnosis and treatment and nurses perform routine care. They often work closely with patients' families
teaching them how to help and care for their loved ones, and to be actively involved in their own or
family member's treatment decisions.
If you want additional information
on becoming a nurse practioner, Nadine Aktan has written a book that will serve as a great resource:
Fast Facts for the New Nurse Practitioner: What you Really Need to Know in a
Nutshell. Please review the table of contents at the link above.
Other career path
considerations:
LPN to RN
LPN to BSN
LPN to MSN
MA Medical
Assistant
MA to RN
NP Nurse Practitioner
Legal Nurse Consultant
Return to the home
page for more on LPNs.
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